Ximeng Li and Chuqi Meng

We went on an exchange term at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) during the Fall 2015 term. Neither of us have travelled to a foreign country by ourselves before, and we were unsure of the experiences we will have there. In the end, however, it turned out to be a wonderful and exciting four months.

HKU was a great university with knowledgeable professors and enthusiastic students. Oftentimes, there would be student-organized activities such as concerts and arcades in open areas around the university, and I was always impressed by the diversity and talent of the students there. Some of our friends that have exchanged at HKU told us that the courses here are often more difficult than UW, but we felt the classes were actually easier than the equivalent ones taught at UW and did not have much pressure academic-wise.

Before we went to Hong Kong, we were also concerned about its recent political instability. However, HKU students and staff and Hong Kong residents in general have been very kind to us, and we did not feel excluded or discriminated against because of our backgrounds at all.

We also travelled to Japan, Taiwan and Macau during the exchange term, all of which turned out to be amazing experiences that our words will not suffice to describe (so here are some pictures!). Just writing about them makes me feel nostalgic!

We also met and befriended many people during our exchange term, both in Hong Kong and during our vacations. It was very interesting to hear different people’s perspectives, views, and stories, and we were able to develop a better understanding and deeper appreciation for the world around us.

Last but definitely not the least, the food in Hong Kong was great! We also really loved the sashimi in Japan and street food in Taiwan. Be ready to put on a few pounds or control your taste buds, if you do decide to go to Hong Kong for an exchange!

The exchange term at HKU was an incredible experience! I returned to Canada just a couple of weeks ago, and I'm missing Hong Kong already!